Month: April 2019

But that’s just off the field. When on the gridiron, he still comes pretty much straight downhill, which is why the Eagles acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Bears last week.

Howard was introduced to the media on Monday and said this latest change in his career path is basically something he’s taking in stride.

“I’ve had a different running back coach every year since college,” he said, “so I’m used to adjusting to different people and getting along with all different people.”

Just 24, Howard spent just three seasons with the Bears, which is one more season than he spent with the University of Alabama-Birmingham, which folded its program after his sophomore season.

Howard spent the next season at Indiana, then declared for the draft.

He could be somewhere else next year too, since he’s set to play out the final year of his rookie deal this coming season too.

Why the Bears would give up on someone as productive as Howard, who has gained more rushing yards than anyone not named Ezekiel Elliott or Todd Gurley since entering the NFL in 2016, is puzzling.

Howard is not considered a dynamic weapon in the passing game and his yards per carry average has declined each year since making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

Besides, he didn’t cost much to acquire and will barely make a dent in the salary cap at $2 million this year.

Howard on Monday said he has worked hard to become a better receiver. He’s already a good blocker in the pass game, if you believe Pro Football Focus, which ranked him the most efficient pass blocker of 2018 (allowing just two pressures in 92 attempts).